Valve arrangement for a compressor

ABSTRACT

The axially aligned outlet openings in an endless inner housing wall surrounding the vane rotor of a compressor, are connected by valves with a housing space between the inner housing wall and an outer housing wall having a discharge outlet. All valves are mounted on a common valve plate which slidingly engages the inner wall while a pair of springs fixedly abut the common valve plate, and slidingly abut the outer housing wall so that a valve unit is formed by the springs, valve plate and valves, which can be removed from and inserted into the housing in axial direction.

limited tates atent 1 1 Under et al. May 7, 1974 VALVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A 2,848,157 8/1958 Ayling 137/516.1l x COM Efissidy et al.... 4l3/l987/8);

, 1 ore Inventors: Ernst n Muehlflcket; Gerhard 3,561,894 2/1971 Kin g 418/61 A x Adalbert; Juergen Hess, both of 3,649,140 3/1972 Harlin... .1 418/97 X Markgroeningen, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbl-l, Stuttgart, Primary Examiner-C. J. Husar G m ny Assistant Examiner-Leon ard Smith [22] Filed: AP 24 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [21] Appl. No.: 354,135

[57] ABSTRACT 30 l D 1 Forelgn App canon Pnomy aka The axially aligned outlet openings in an endless inner May 3, 1972 Germany 2221541 housing wall surrounding the vane rotor ofa compres I sor, are connected by valves with a housing space be- [52] 11.8. C1 418/259, l37/454.4, 441174725746 tween the inner housing wall and an outer housing wall having a discharge outlet. All valves are mounted l' jf 5 on a common valve plate which slidingly engages the e 248 inner wall while a pair of springs fixedly abut the com- 5 4 mon valve plate, and slidingly abut the outer housing wall so that a valve unit is formed by the springs; valve 56 R f d plate and valves, which can be removed from and in- UNITE]; gfrx rigs :ZTENTS serted into the housing in axial direction.

2,135,515 11/1938 Hull et al. 418/89 x 10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures VALVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A COMPRESSOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The compressor shown in the drawing has a double- The present invention relates to a valve arrangement Walled housing with an Outer Wall and an endless for a compressor, particularly a compressor for a cooling medium, having a rotor with vanes rotating in an oblong cylindrical working chamber.

The US. Pat. No. 3,385,513 discloses a compressor ofthis type in which the vanes divide the working space between the rotor and the housing into high pressure and low pressure chambers communicating with outlet means and inlet means in the form of a plurality of bores through the endless inner wall surrounding the rotor and guiding the vanes. The outlet bores are opened and closed by valve members which are part of a valve plate secured by screws to the inner endless wall.

The valve arrangement according to the prior art has the disadvantage that the valve means can be assembled only during the assembly of the housing of the compressor, and that the valve means take up great space, increasing the size of the compressor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to provide a valve arrangement for a compressor of the above-described type, which is compact, has a low weight, and is inexpensively manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the outlet valves in such a manner that they can be removed from, or inserted into, a housing space as a valve unit requiring no further adjustment.

With these objects in view, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides a valve unit which resiliently fits a housing space into which the outlet openings of the high pressure chambers of the compressor open.

The arrangement of the invention has the advantage that the entire valve unit can be manufactured and as-' sembled outside of the compressor housing, whereupon the valve unit is inserted into the housing space which is under pressure, and resiliently held by springs of the valve unit between the inner and outer housing walls forming the housing space.

It is particularly advantageous to hold the valve unit by resilient means, such as part-cylindrical springs. It is also advantageous to provide a common valve plate for a plurality of valves which may be stamped of sheet metal so that also valve seats are formed in the base plate.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view illustrating a vane compressor provided with the valve unit according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an assembled valve unit.

inner wall 2 in which a working chamber 3 is formed. The cylindrical inner surface 2a is ellipsoid and engages the outer ends or radial vanes 5 which are guided in radial slots 4b of a rotor 4 whose diameter corresponds to the shorter axis of the endless elipsoid inner surface 211. Between the outer surface 4a of'rotor 4 and the cylindrical ellipsoid inner surface 2a of the outer wall 2, two expanding and contracting chambers 3a and 3b are formed. The vanes 5 divide the chambers 3a, 3b into intervane chambers. Each of chambers 3a and 3b has a suction portion where low pressure prevails, and a pressure portion where high pressure prevails. The suction chambers 20 are connected by inlet means 6 and a space 6a with the inlet of the compressor. while the high pressure chamber 21 of each chamber 3a, 3b has an outlet means 8 into a housing space in which a valve unit 9 is located for connecting the outlet means 8 with a discharge outlet, not shown, in the housing of the compressor.

It may be assumed that five axially aligned outlet openings 8 are provided on either side of the inner endless wall 2. Each of the five outlets 8 opening into the same housing space 8a, is normally closed by valve members or springs 13 which are prongs of a combshaped structure 14. However, FIG. 2 only shows three valve members I3, two of which are broken off.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 2, each valve unit 9 has a common base plate 10 with, for example, three or five passages 11 respectively registering with the outlets 8, and receiving therefrom fluid under high pressure. Each passage 11 is surrounded by a pressed collar 12 whose annular edge 12a is ground to form a valve seat cooperating with a valve member 13 forming a prong of the comb-shaped structure 14. A corresponding comb-shaped structure 16 has abutment members 15 in the form of prongs 15 which are respec tively superimposed on the valve prongs 13. However, prongs 15 are rigid and prongs 13 are resilient to normally abut the valve seat 12a, respectively.

The common valve plate 10 has a stepped portion which is located in a matching axially extending guideway or guide recess 2b in the inner wall 2, in which also a sealing member is located, surrounding the outlets 8.

' The backs of the comb-shaped abutment structure 15, and of the resilient valve structure 13, are secured to the base plate 10 by rivets. 17, which are transversely aligned with pairs of abutting superimposed prongs l3 and 15. A pair of part-cylindrical spring plates 18 has outer ends located in a guideway or guide recess lb of the outer housing wall 1. The other ends of the curved spring plates abut the stepped portion 10a of base plate 10 which is located in the guideway 2b. The straight inner edges of the springs 18 abut opposite sides of the collars 12. Due to the action of springs 18 which press the valve plate 10 against the inner wall 2, the valve unit 9 is supported in the housing space 8a, but can be axially shifted for removal or insertion while resiliently sliding in the recesses lb and 2b.

During assembly, the completely assembled valve unit 9 is insered in axial direction into the housing space 8a until the openings 11 in valve seats 12, 12a

3 register with the outlets 8, respectively. Thereupon, the open end of the housing 1 is closed by a circular end cover, not shown.

During rotation of rotor 4, vanes 5 move along the cylindrical ellipsoid inner surface of the inner endless wall 2. The intervane spaces 20 expand, and the intervane spaces 21 contract so that fluid is sucked in through inlets 6, housing spaces 6a, and housing inlet 7. The intervane spaces 21 contract, so that the compressed fluid is discharged through the outlets 8 and the opened valve members 13 which cooperate with the seats 12a on collars 12 of the base plate 10. The pressure from outlets 8 resiliently displaces the valve members 13 so that the fluid can flow from outlets 8 through passages 11 and through the housing space 8a to a discharge outlet, not shown, on the housing.

It is a particular advantage of the arrangement of the invention that the valve structure 14, 13, and the abutment structure 16, 15 can be made of sheet metal and combined in a unit with valve plate 10 by rivets 17. It is evident that the valve unit construction according to the invention may be used with a compressor of a different type. In accordance with a modification of the invention, not shown, a plurality of superimposed valve structures 14, 13 made of thin elastic sheets, may be substituted for the single comb-shaped valve unit l4, 13 shown in FIG. 2.

Generally speaking, a valve arrangement according to the invention comprises a rotary compressor including housing means having an endless inner wall 2 forming a working chamber 3, and an outer wall 1 forming 4 are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim: 1. Valve arrangement for a compressor, comprising a rotary compressor including housing means having an endless inner wall forming a working chamber, and an outer wall forming with said inner wall a housing space having a discharge outlet, said inner wall having at least one inlet means and at least one outlet means; rotor means in said working chamber forming therein at least one pressure chamber and at least one suction chamber, said pressure chamber being connected by said outlet means with said housing space; and at least one valve unit mounted in said housing space slidingly guided on said outer and inner walls for axial moveand 2b on the outer and inner walls 1, 2 for axial movement into and out of the housing space 8a, and including valve means 10-17 normally closing the outlet means 8, and being movable by high pressure fluid from the outlet means 8 to an open position for discharge of fluid through the housing space 8a and dis charge outlet, not shown.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of compressors differing'from the type described above. I

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a valve arrangement for a comthe standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and ment into and out of said housing space, and including a valve means normally closing said outlet means, and being movable by high pressure fluid from said outlet means to an open position for discharge of fluid through said housing space and discharge outlet.

2. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer walls have parallel axially extending guideways in said housing space; and wherein said valve unit has two portions guided in said guideways for axial movement so that said unit can be removed and inserted.

3. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said portion, which engages said guideway of said outer wall, is resilient.

4. Valve arrangement as-claimed in claim 1, wherein said outlet means includes a plurality of axially aligned outlet openings passing through said inner wall; wherein said valve means include a plurality of valves cooperating with said outlet openings, respectively; and wherein said valve unit includes resilient means abutting said valves and said outer wall for pressing said valve means against said inner wall.

5. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said .valves includes a base member abutting said inner wall and having a va'lve seat registering with the respective outlet opening, a valve member normally closing the respective valve seat and being movable to an open position, and an abutment member on which said valve member abuts in said open position.

6. Valve arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein said base member form a base plate common to all said valves, wherein said valve members and said abutment members are superimposed prongs of comb-shaped structures; said valve unit including fastening means for securing said comb-shaped structures fixedly to said base plate; and wherein said resilient means abut said base plate.

7. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said base plate includes tubular collars pressed out of said base plate and having annular edges forming said valve seats.

8. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fastening means include rivets passing through the backs of said comb-shaped structures, and being aligned with said prongs, respectively.

9. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said resilient means include a pair of part-cylindrical elastic plates abutting said base plate on opposite sides of said plurality of valve'seats.

10. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said inner and outer walls have parallel axially extending guide recesses, one of said guide recesses being slidingly engaged by said part-cylindrical elastic plates; and wherein said baseplate has a stepped portion slidingly engaging the other guide recess. 

1. Valve arrangement for a compressor, comprising a rotary compressor including housing means having an endless inner wall forming a working chamber, and an outer wall forming with said inner wall a housing space having a discharge outlet, said inner wall having at least one inlet means and at least one outlet means; rotor means in said working chamber forming therein at least one pressure chamber and at least one suction chamber, said pressure chamber being connected by said ouTlet means with said housing space; and at least one valve unit mounted in said housing space slidingly guided on said outer and inner walls for axial movement into and out of said housing space, and including a valve means normally closing said outlet means, and being movable by high pressure fluid from said outlet means to an open position for discharge of fluid through said housing space and discharge outlet.
 2. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer walls have parallel axially extending guideways in said housing space; and wherein said valve unit has two portions guided in said guideways for axial movement so that said unit can be removed and inserted.
 3. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said portion, which engages said guideway of said outer wall, is resilient.
 4. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outlet means includes a plurality of axially aligned outlet openings passing through said inner wall; wherein said valve means include a plurality of valves cooperating with said outlet openings, respectively; and wherein said valve unit includes resilient means abutting said valves and said outer wall for pressing said valve means against said inner wall.
 5. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said valves includes a base member abutting said inner wall and having a valve seat registering with the respective outlet opening, a valve member normally closing the respective valve seat and being movable to an open position, and an abutment member on which said valve member abuts in said open position.
 6. Valve arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein said base member form a base plate common to all said valves, wherein said valve members and said abutment members are superimposed prongs of comb-shaped structures; said valve unit including fastening means for securing said comb-shaped structures fixedly to said base plate; and wherein said resilient means abut said base plate.
 7. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said base plate includes tubular collars pressed out of said base plate and having annular edges forming said valve seats.
 8. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fastening means include rivets passing through the backs of said comb-shaped structures, and being aligned with said prongs, respectively.
 9. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said resilient means include a pair of part-cylindrical elastic plates abutting said base plate on opposite sides of said plurality of valve seats.
 10. Valve arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said inner and outer walls have parallel axially extending guide recesses, one of said guide recesses being slidingly engaged by said part-cylindrical elastic plates; and wherein said base plate has a stepped portion slidingly engaging the other guide recess. 